Electric-display switching mechanism.



E. H. BICKLEY.

ELECTRIC DISPLAY SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION mu) 0c.2a. I912.

1,155A66. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

the display EVERETT H. BIOKLEY, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOG-RAPH COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC-DISPLAY SWITCHING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Application filed December 23. 1912. Serial No. 738.162.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT H. BICKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of lVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric-Display Switching Mechanism, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art'to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which'forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electric display switching mechanism and especially to that kind of device known as the motograph. wherein characters appear upon an electric display board at the right hand side and travel thereacross to the left hand side. Thecharacters appear in continuous and readable or intelligible lines so as to give a message that may be understood.

A feature of this invention is the new method that I employ to throw a continuous line of characters upon the display board by switching the current on and off at the proper times. This is in the form of an endless belt provided with conductor inserts of thin metal.

Another feature is the method of storing that portion of the belt that is not in immediate use, while still another feature is a guiding block which is curved to gi e the ribbon added strength to resist the guiding tendency of the side members of the block. I also employ a device for automatically cutting off the current in case the ribbon breaks.

In the drawings :--Figure 1, is a section of the storage case, the field of electric ter-' minals and the contact block, the display board being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2, is a front view of the ribbon and the con- .ductor insert. Fig. 3, is an edge view thereof, the ribbon fabric bein shown in section. Fig. 42, is a section throug the guide.

A indicates the casing in which the ribbon folds in the convoiutions shown in the drawings. At 1 there is a slot through which the ribbon issues upward and passes over the'guide block 2 which gives it proper direction in its passage between the field of terminals and the contact block to bring it into contact with the proper terminals for operating the desired incandescent lights on board. The standard B is bolt- On the opposite side of the terminals is located a contact plate 9, fastened to an insulated contact block 10, which is supported on the standard C, by the slotted hinges 11 which, by reason of their slots. may be adjusted horizontally with respect to the standard C. so as to bring them into proper relation with the brushes. Between the contact plate and the brushes passes the ribbon a constructed of a fabric or other web and which passes from the upper end of the terminals onto an idler roller 26, thence over a driving roller 12 and through a slot 13 into the upper end of the casing A. The driving roller 12 and the idler roller 26 are each supported on an arm which is contacted by set-screws 12 and 26 so that the roll may be slightly adjusted on one side so as to adjust the ribbon widthwise. A springactuated presser roll 14 holds the ribbon upon the guide 2 and similarly a spring-actuated presser roll 15 holds the ribbon against the driving roll. The driving roll is driven by a belt 16 which may be connected with any suitable source of power.

A conductor arm 27 carries a roll '17 which ordinarily rides upon the ribbon and is kept in contact with the set-screw on the spring arm 18 so as to complete an electric circuit that controls a remote switch and keeps the power on. However, as soon as the ribbon breaks or is torn, the arm 16 separates from the set-screw and breaks the circuit so as to stop the power.

The ribbon in passing over the numerous brushes and the contact plate is put under a very large tension and it is necessary that it be properly guided so as to secure the light eifects upon the display board. If this ribbon is constructed of light material, as paper, for instance, ora thin fabric, it is necessary that the guiding be done in such a way as not to injure the ribbon and to this end I have employed a guide 2 which has a guide block 19 that is curved as shown in Fig. 1. This guide block is adjustable by set-screws 20 that operate in the brackets 21 so that the position of the block may be laterally shifted. This block is provided with side members which do the guiding. The curvature of the block together with the presser roll 14 effects a bending of the ribbon as it passes over the block and this tends to strengthen the ribbon and prevent crinkling thereof due to the guiding in fiuence of the sides. Especially is this true where the ribbon'is of paper, as it is obvious that a curved piece of paper is harder to crinkle than a straight piece.

The ribbon A is provided with a plurality of slots 22 into which thin metal letters 23 may be buttoned by the studs 24. I prefer to construct these letters of thin sheet metal, such as copper or brass. The letters are, therefore, flexible and can bend with the ribbon. The letters act as conductor inserts which will close the circuits of terminals corresponding to lights upon the display board that will display the letter so that it is obvious that the letter B, 'for instance, traveling across the field of terminals will close the circuits of lamps upon the display board, which will not only produce the letter B, but will give this letter a traveling appearance upon the sign. The studs 24 drag along the. contact block and complete the electrical connection between the group of brushes and the lead-in wire 25 of the circuit.

What I claim is 1. A control for electric displays, having in combination, a field of electric display lamps, a field of terminals connected there with, contact means opposite said terminals, a box and an endless ribbon running through said box and stored therein, in convolutions and passing between the field of terminals and contact means to make and break the electrical circuits to the display lamps, substantially as described.

2. A control for electric displays, having in combination, a field of electric lamps, a field of terminals connected therewith, a contact plate opposite said terminals, a rib bon propelled between said field of terminals and the contact plate, the said ribbon being slotted and a metal character provided with a stud by'which the character may be removab y fastened to the ribbon and which wipes the contact plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT H. BICKLEY.

Witnesses:

STUART C. BARNES, VIRGINIA C. SPRATT. 

